David Schembri
Foresta 2000 trees vandalised again
Most of the trees targeted by vandals were being planted three years ago to replace those cut down in a previous act of vandalism. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Vandals have struck again at the Foresta 2000 woodland in Mellieħa, sawing off 104 trees and saplings.
Park ranger Ray Vella went to work yesterday morning to find devastation at the site, a joint project by BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Parks Department.
A lot of the spoiled trees had been planted in October 2007 to replace the 3,000 that had been destroyed in a previous systematic act of vandalism. The shrubs had been bought with €58,000 donated by the public and were also planted by members of the public.
Visibly irate, Mr Vella walked round the park, exuding frustration, even kicking the fallen trees.
"These are another three years down the drain for me," he complained, recalling the hours spent tending and watering the trees.
Asked whether he was suspecting anyone of the vandalism, Mr Vella did not reply at first but then said no one had been seen acting suspiciously so they had no reasonable grounds to suspect anyone.
A few hours after the attack was reported, Mellieħa mayor Robert Cutajar condemned it saying: "We're going to defy this by promising that come October, we're going to replace every tree chopped down with another two."
The government and the opposition also condemned the attacks.
The police said investigations were still underway.
BirdLife and DLĦ said the failure of the police to apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes seemed to be encouraging further vandalism. The country badly needed to send a message that these kinds of crime would not be tolerated.
Last year, Mr Vella, who has been working at the park for six years, was ambushed and shot at while on duty, and the year before his private farm in Mellieħa was torched. In 2004, around 100 Foresta 2000 trees were chopped down by vandals. Asked if further security measures such as cameras would be installed, Mr Vella said this might have to be considered.
The ranger called yesterday's vandalism a direct attack on the country.
"Whoever is doing this doesn't care about the Maltese, as everyone was going to benefit from this project. These trees don't have legs or hands to defend themselves: you have to be a coward and an imbecile to do this."
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YUSUF.A
May 17th 2010, 14:33
I think the police should put cameras and electric fences at the property. Go and try this idea. If it still does not work, find another solution.
CFarrugia
Apr 28th 2010, 10:10
Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice shame on me.
lessons from the last incident haven't been learned it seems...are there still no watchmen on such sites?....if not then we do not deserve to complain because we're idiots.
Same goes for any vandalism on heritage sites....
YUSUF.A
May 17th 2010, 14:36
Yeah! We should have sucrity so they can get caught once and for all. If they are smart the never do this again.
Carmel Saliba
Apr 27th 2010, 22:45
I condemned the attacks held in at the Foresta 2000 woodland in Mellieħa.
But I mostly condemn those who planned this Foresta 2000.
Why the trees were not planned in straight lines so that we will have a decent place where our children can go for some fresh air. In case of a fire, the way how the Foresta 2000 is planned - if planned, there will be no accessibility for a fire-engine.
Is the Maghtab Project in the same line?
HOPE NOT.
Ludwig Flask
Apr 27th 2010, 20:44
"...sawing off 104 trees and saplings..." how long does sawing off 104 trees take? Wasn't it advised after a similar recent incident to have some sort of security or CCTV put on location to monitor this area? What's the fun in sawing 104 trees?
Henry S Pace
Apr 27th 2010, 15:09
'Vandals have struck again at the Foresta 2000 woodland in Mellieħa, sawing off 104 trees and saplings'
Are these vandals have the same DNA of the Historical Barbarians led by Attilla on the European mainland ?
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Apr 27th 2010, 14:42
@ a Montebello Fully agree that CCTV Cameras should be set up on such sited. Trees are very important for our Island. We need more and more trees on these few remaining open sites . It would also be a good idea if supervision is effected on a 24hour basis. (A good look at the Photo shows clearly that whoever effected this vandalism had all the time in the world to do a real good job!!!!!! The tree is perfectly sow through.) Supervision on a 24Hrs basis off course will cost money but in the long run this may give a Positive Result and no such vandalism will take place. The Balluta Residents Association give our full backing to all those who take care of this and such other sites including Mr. Ray Vella and Mellieha Mayor Mr.Robert Cutajar. Alexander Pace Gouder PRO Balluta Residents Association.
Reuben Mallia
Apr 27th 2010, 14:31
This is not only an act of idiocy on behalf of the perpetrators (which goes without saying), which I would bet have something to do with hunting, but also on behalf of the owners of the park. Why weren't hidden cameras installed after the last incident? I bet that after the trees are replaced no cameras will be installed either so that this can go on forever.
A decently good camera will only cost € 140 to install. If you install 20 of them the cost will go up to a mere €3,000 including installation.
How stupid is this on behalf of the authorities concerned?
Fabian Borg
Apr 27th 2010, 13:54
The shrubs had been bought with €58,000 donated by the public and were also planted by members of the public.
So Euro 58000 / 104 shrubs = Euro 557 per shrub ??
Pine (Znuber) , Olive (Zebbug) and other local Shrubs can be bought from local nursuries at 10 Euro each or even less.
Further more the least you can do with all the money you collect is install security cameras, alarms and what needs to be done to safeguard the work you are doing in Foresta 2000.
Have you ever heard of trees vandalised in Ta`Qali National Park ? No as there are cameras guarding the entrance and key areas.
eric mamo
Apr 27th 2010, 11:57
This is an excellent opportunity to plant more trees when 100 got vandalised in 2007 58 thousand euros got collected for more trees. true over half of those died the first year for lack of watering and thee campaign had to be renamed 'twig 4 u'. The trees my family planted had different name tags the next year although they were the identical same trees. Reach your own conclusions but please Birdlife give us a break!
Peter Vella
Apr 27th 2010, 11:08
You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to guess who is behind this act of vandalism. Just ask yourself who currently harbours a lot of ill feeling towards Birdlife because they cannot practice their so called traditional pastime.
These people have done it before and will do it again, it just shows that their attitude is "give me what I want or else you will regret it!". Let us not succumb to their threats and their vandalism. Let them continue digging their own grave.
Anthony Mizzi
Apr 27th 2010, 10:50
Another cowardly act by Nature's Terrorists.
Hope these vnadals get caught and get a "FITTING" sentence for their cowardly act , against nature and against the citizens of Malta.
Chris Finch
Apr 27th 2010, 10:32
I simply cannot comprehend the thinking behind this act. Stupidity, sheer bloody stupidity.
Someone out there knows who did this. By harbouring this information you are as guilty as the idiot(s) who did this.
For the sake of common decency, turn them in now. Show them that this behaviour is unacceptable in 2010.
G Psaila
Apr 27th 2010, 10:26
OK, replace the trees by all means, but these vandals are hurting our children. My grandchildren visit their trees often and watch them grow with immense pride and joy. They even put a label on with names. I ask, why hurt our children?
a montebello
Apr 27th 2010, 10:17
How many times must this happen before CCTV cameras are set up? Foresta 2000 is obviously a target for these cowardly vandals.
Fingers crossed that these people will be caught, named, shamed and punished to the maximum allowed by law.